Tooth decay is common — in fact, an estimated 92% of adults have had at least one cavity in their permanent teeth, and about a quarter have cavities that haven’t been treated.
The most common treatment for cavities is dental fillings, and today, that often means getting a white filling instead of a traditional metal amalgam filling.
At Goodman Dental Center, we use white fillings exclusively to restore teeth damaged by decay or trauma — we never use amalgams. That’s because Brian Goodman, DDS, and Tanner Goodman, DMD, understand the benefits of modern white fillings compared with traditional amalgams.
Take a moment as they review eight of the most important advantages of white fillings compared with traditional metal amalgams.
By weight, metal fillings contain about 50% mercury, a metal associated with serious health risks. Amalgam fillings also contain tin, silver, copper, and zinc.
Although mercury fillings are thought to be safe in the general population, the FDA does advise avoiding them in some patients, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, very young children, and people with neurological or kidney problems.
Undamaged mercury fillings appear to cause no danger to most people, but plenty of patients prefer white fillings because they’re made of composite resins and contain no metals of any kind.
One of the most obvious benefits of white fillings is that they can be tinted to blend perfectly with the surrounding tooth materials. In fact, they’re often referred to as tooth-colored fillings.
Unlike amalgam fillings that soon turn dark, white fillings maintain the aesthetics of a beautiful, healthy smile. Once the filling is in place, it’s almost impossible to see the margin that indicates where the tooth material ends and the filling begins.
White fillings are applied differently than amalgam fillings and require less removal of tooth material. That means your provider can preserve more of your healthy tooth and maintain the tooth’s integrity.
Metal is a great conductor of both hot and cold temperatures, increasing the likelihood of tooth sensitivity. White fillings are made of composite resins that don’t conduct heat or cold, helping to reduce tooth sensitivity.
Composite resins are applied to the tooth layer by layer, bonding with the tooth material for a virtually seamless fit that won’t shrink over time like amalgam fillings can. Better bonding means there’s less chance that bacteria can seep in and reinfect the tooth — a relatively common problem with older metal fillings.
Not only can white fillings be expertly tinted to match your tooth material, but they can be expertly shaped to match the tooth’s natural contours too.
If a metal filling is damaged, the entire filling must be removed (increasing the potential for exposure to mercury). If a composite filling is chipped or damaged, often it can be repaired in place, simply by applying additional composite material and shaping it.
Composite resins have evolved significantly over the past decade or so. Today’s resins are extremely strong and durable, making them a great choice for fillings in any tooth, including your hard-working molars.
White fillings are great for restoring teeth with new decay, but they can also replace existing amalgam fillings, so you can enjoy all the benefits these fillings offer.
To learn more about white fillings at Goodman Dental Center, call 480-485-7073 or book an appointment online at our Queen Creek, Arizona, practice today.
